Things to do at this stop:

• Cross the bridge over Rummel Creek.
• Look down at the creek from both sides of the bridge.
• There are boulders in the creek to create pools.
• 100 yards upstream is a yellow boom to catch debris.
• The trail down to creekside and the granite weir is to the left on the east side of the bridge.

The Moores bridged the creek at this point as access to their cabin site. Their original bridge eventually became dangerously weakened by decay at water level and was replaced in 1979. At that time the stream was narrow enough that an active young person could step (or easily jump) across the water almost anywhere along its entire length. However, subsequent development of subdivisions, shopping centers, businesses, and particularly an ever-widening Interstate 10 upstream, vastly increased runoff from rainstorms. The creek was forced to broaden its valley to accommodate the enormous increase in water volume. The wider stream actually became more attractive to fish and wildlife, but at a terrible cost to creekside trees and other vegetation. Erosion was out of control. Then, in 2007, Harris County Flood Control installed concrete boulders, check dams, and a granite weir (as well as retention ponds upstream) to slow the flood waters and mitigate erosion. We are thankful to have one of the few remaining streams in Houston that still runs clear.

This is a good first place to look for native wildlife. You may see grey squirrels or swamp rabbits foraging on the shore, bullfrogs or water snakes (invariably harmless) at the water's edge, or fish and turtles in the water. Most of the fish this far upstream are young black bass or various species of ciclids (exotics dumped from home aquariums); the turtles are almost always red-eared sliders or spiny softshells (which appear to have no discernible spines).

Directions to the next stop:

• Continue walking east.
• Look for a crossroads in the trail after 20 paces.
• There is a large white ash tree on the right where the trail splits.